A lucky find by a young boy on a Prince Edward Island beach has revealed important information about the early evolution of reptiles, according to new research from the University of Toronto Mississauga.

Kansas, 1953. A dashing drifter, a beautiful girl and the last day of summer—a potent combination that will change the lives of two other men and four other women forever. Considered a modern American classic, Picnic won the 1953 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. The play has seen recent hit revivals on Broadway, in Chicago and at the Shaw Festival. Single tickets are $12 to $18. For further information, call the Box Office at 905-569-4369 or visit www.theatreerindale.com

The Blackwood Gallery’s newest exhibit, Inside, features the works of eight artists who use the various technologies and traditions that painting offers to engage the Gallery’s exhibition spaces and reflect on the established genre of interior painting.

Mathematical and computational sciences professor Konstantin Khanin speaks about his work at this annual special lecture series. In Self-Similarity and Universality in Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Khanin discusses concepts that have shaped our understanding of critical phenomena. Khanin was recognized with the 2014 UTM Research Excellence Award in December. RSVP to rong.wu@utoronto.ca

Hospitality and Retail Services invites you to join Chef Sandeep Kachroo from Chartwells as he demonstrates how to prepare a healthy, great-tasting, budget-friendly meal using local and seasonal ingredients. Chef Sandeep will take questions as he demonstrates how to prepare Grilled Chicken Cilantro with Apricot & Lemon Dressing and Warm Mushroom and Barley Salad. Everyone who attends can also stay for dinner and try the entrée. Seating is limited, so sign up early to ensure you get a spot. Register here >

Faculty, staff and students are invited to discuss cyber misogyny and cyber bullying at a workshop with women and gender studies assistant professor Victoria Tahmasebi-Birgani and media commentators Steph Guthrie and Anne Theriault. The event is sponsored by U of T Community-University Knowledge Alliance. A light lunch will be served. RSVP to jan.noel@utoronto.ca

Yan Tam-Seguin, Anne Gaiger and Kimiko Hill have been recognized with an Excellence Award for their part in a tri-campus initiative that developed and implemented the new Career Learning Network system. The multi-year project, which launched in 2013, unified previous systems across the university, making it easier for students, staff, faculty and external employers to access job postings, career-related events and other services. The Network also assists students with career exploration and further education, and provides access to academic and learning skills support.

U of T Mississauga is seeking feedback from UTM undergraduate students, faculty and staff on the possibility of adding a fall reading break in October commencing in the 2016-17 academic year. Please check your email to find your link to the survey. The survey will close Sunday, Jan. 25 at midnight.

Workshop: Succeeding as a Team Player

Date: Thursday, January 29, 2015

Time: 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm

Place: UTM Council Chambers, Davis Building, Room 3130

This course offers strategies on how to best create consistent, predictable and reliable processes that showcase your work to your colleagues and those to whom you report. Learn how to document your skills, create accessible workflows for coverage and general knowledge, support and create standard operating procedures. Please contact the Organizational Development and Learning Centre for further details.

International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is coming up. Nominate an individual or group advancing anti-racism in the university community and beyond for the IDERD Award. Nomination forms available on the ARCDO website. Deadline for applications in February 9.

UTM Student newspaper The Medium is looking for culinary contributions from staff or faculty for “Blackboard Special”, a regular column on home cooking. Contributors are asked to share a favourite recipe (as simple or as fancy as they like) and explain in a sentence or two why it has earned a special place in your culinary repertoire. Recipes, both original or adapted, are welcomed. Please contact editor Madeleine Brown for details.

Media Clippings:

If you’ve given up your New Year’s resolutions, you’re in good company. Several media outlets picked up Janet Polivy’s insights into why it can be so tough to keep those start-of-year promises, along with her tips on how to make them stick.

Archaeology covered research from geoarcheaologist and lecturer David Passmore who scouted foxholes and bomb craters to shed new light on logistical support of WWII German field armies and the impact of Allied bombings.

Former post-doctoral fellow Jesse Hollister and biology professor Marc Johnson saw international coverage of their research on evening primroses. The findings demonstrated strong support for the theory that species that reproduce sexually, rather than asexually, are healthier over time, because they don’t accumulate harmful mutations.

Professor Robert Reisz co-authored on an article describing a new reptile species. News of the fossilized lizard, found by a boy on a Prince Edward Island in 1995, was covered widely by various media outlets.

In a New York Times blog, “The Upshot” covered family literacy research by professor Philip Oreopolous. In a project to develop literacy, families were sent texts with tips about how to read to their preschoolers. As a result of those digital nudges, parents spent substantially more time reading with their children.